I to this day have not fully grasped the deep wisdom of that song... despite my greatest efforts in meditation. However, I will never cease the quest for enlightenment I have taken upon myself!
ArchColbert There might be some sense of 'doing it old school', "people back in the day didn't have this and were doing good". but why not making it easier for yourself? Eminem spent nights reading dictionaries and he's a lyrical genius
Back in my teens to early twenties, I used to write "practice songs" by the truckload. Sometimes it's good to not get too precious with every idea that pops out of your head. Songwriting is like any other craft, practical experience goes a long way.
I still do that. Well, more like squirrel away lyric ideas in the form of poetry so that I can cannibalize and/or restructure later for whatever music project I'm in.
Gravity by John Mayer kills me every time I actually re-look into the lyrics. "Oh twice as much ain't twice as good And can't sustain like one half could It's wanting more that's gonna send me to my knees" I totally breezed by that line but then it hit me last night. Most of his song are crazy good lyrically tho.
Great lesson! ^_^ I also had a period of my life when I didn't want to study songwriting as a theory thing because I was afraid to become too generic... Just to realise that after really studying songwriting at a music school with other classmates, my skills as a songwriter have improved a lot!
Much of the methodology you've presented works in various writing situations, from essays to short stories, articles, etc. I'm glad you posted thus video! It's a good time for me to remember it all. Thank you for helping me to unstick myself! In fact, you've been one of the "angels in the architecture" that Paul Simon mentioned in "You Can Call Me Al," an incredibly complex song on the psychospiritual tip, masquerading as a simple little silly ditty. I love how Simon holds up the everyman's quest to uncover his core meaning from the examination of a life that is somehow missing something. This guy who represents us all, still being partially in a dream state, can't quite put his finger on what's wrong. To emphasize the point of dreaded pointlessness, his life story is told as some kind of cheesy bar joke. This Joe Average expresses the worries of the collective human race when he say, "Don't wanna end up a cartoon in a cartoon graveyard." The point of it all in life, I guess, is to keep striving to find the point of it all. Ultimately, I like lyrics that allow for exploration of reality beyond our current somnambulistic vision. Steely Dan Bob Seager Marvin Gaye. Great lyricists!
"I Talked To The Wind" by King Crimson has some of my favourite lyrics ever,makes me feel like my heart is going to break from a melancholy overdose haha
This part sums up my feeling about a current resident of a famous building on Pennsylvania Ave. You don't possess me don't impress me Just upset my mind Can't destruct me or conduct me Just use up my time
Wow, you should hear the version they released on “A Young Person’s Guide to King Crimson” (a double LP with tons of unique stuff on them!). He used a weird kind of reverse effect on the vocals, which are sung by a female or females.. It’s so good I dare say it’s one of my favorites!
Hey hey, I am a new subscriber and after watching many of your videos, please let me offer some constructive criticism: The instructional/sensei videos are superb. Very sound advice and one of the best and most to-the-point instructionals that I've seen. I see great potential in the channel if you focus on teaching music, especially music theory. It is not an easy subject and most instructors are very hard to understand. You've got a knack for it to explain it to noobs such as me who wants to learn but finds it hard to get the point. On the other hand, please, please minimize the gimmick videos :) I have seen great channels being reduced to gimmickry when they start losing steam. Grabs the attention, gains the click, but doesn't add any value. Do the channel because you love to do it, and you will continue to gain people :) Good luck!
I always liked "Pet" by A Perfect Circle. I rarely pay attention to lyrics but, this song really stands out as an incredibly powerful piece in every aspect.
That's The Way It Is by Daniel Lanois always gets me every time I hear it. From a lyrical perspective it presents an easy to understand message that uses unusual metaphors and lyrical devices. But both the singing and music are so simple yet they create such a connection
Thanks for this video. To me one of the greatest songs (from a writing standpoint) is the Beatles Something. Musically it's almost perfect using almost every kind of movement throughout.Major and minor ,ascending and descending movement. I used this in a writing class (many years ago) as my example of a well constructed progression and melody and got an A +. Lyrically it's hard because there are so many great ones. From Springsteen's blinded by the light. An example of painting a picture with words that places you in an environment and you become lost in his world . To John Waite and his metaphorical genius, and articulate use of adjectives. To the storytellers, Dan Fogelberg, Gordon Lightfoot, Jackson Browne, and Bob Dylan. The truly great songs are remembered and are timeless. Keep writing .Pat Pattison said , out of every 100 songs you write, we're lucky if 10 of them are good, and really lucky if 1 or two are great. The more you write and rewrite , the more you get closer to mastering your craft. We learn by making our bad ones better and our good ones great. I am by know means a great writer. Maybe one day I'll get a great one. Until then I'll keep writing.
Great content, you are an amazing youtuber! My favorite lyrics are Time from Pink Floyd. Always gets me how they managed to write such profound lyrics yet with a lot of flow and easy to sing along.
This video makes me glad that I have worked on writing poetry and rap a bunch. I usually start thinking from a storytelling perspective along with the melody.
Any song by Jackson Browne has great lyrics. "The Pretender" always struck me as fantastic songwriting. Billy Joel is another incredible songwriter (that I have only just begun to appreciate.)
Awesome video. Thanks for the insight. One of my favorite lines is in Boston's 'A Man I'll Never Be' - " Cry a little harder, and hold a little tighter, emotions can't be satisfied." Thanks again Sammy...
Great songwriting info ! Glad l stumbled on to your channel. In 1979 I was 15 and just got my first guitar. I had already collected over 100 albums. (We had the RCA and Columbia record club back than... lol) I have to say that "Into the Void" was the first song that popped in my head for the most memorable lyrics. Just a great, somewhat futuristic story of a group of good people who struggle, but ultimately find peace, far away from the evil psychopaths...(why does that word start with a p?...anyone?) who wish to control and suppress them in perpetual and apocalyptic terror.
Thank you Sensei! Lately I've been working on "In The Curve by The Avett Brothers", and "Needing/Getting by OK Go". They both have some slightly tricky lyrics in my opinion, and I've enjoyed the challenge of learning them, and making changes to suit my playing or singing.
The first song that came to my head when I thought about good lyrics was Haken's Falling Back To Earth. As the centerpiece of their album the Mountain it basically encapsulates the whole story of rise and fall. The lyrics are well structured and easy to understand and interpret yet if you listen to it over and over again you find more and more details.
"...I feel like I mention this in every video..." I think one of the great things about your series is that you are conscious of what you've covered in other videos. Also, as an educator, I really appreciate how your "lessons" have a professional flow, a logical beginning, middle, and closure. Good stuff.
7.29 you talk about broadway putting syllables on the right beats can you elaborate it sounds interesting in regard to natural singing but i didn't quite grasp what you meant, and didn't hear the word you used to describe it when not being on beat. love the show :)
Song with Amazing Lyrics: "Roseville Fair" written by Bill Staines. It's a simple story about how the singer met the love of his life at a dance at the county fair. Not a wasted word in the whole song.
I was just listening to "Bridge Over Troubled Water" by Simon and Garfunkel. I thought, these are some powerful and simple lyrics that everyone understands. Brilliant song. I loved the video. Big fan of your stuff.
I love your videos. You are objective and tackle head on issues with a logical aproach. At the end the message is always "keep working", which is always the way to get better. I am a journalist, it may not seem because I come from another language, but I work with words for a living, and because of the way you talk and the way you work, I can say that I have become a fan of yours. Please keep doing this and keep going on with music.
Great video! My tip? Listen to people who are held up as great songwriters and get a feel for their ideas. People like Lennon/McCartney, Dylan, Diamond, Neil Young, Neil Finn, Dan Wilson, Springsteen etc. It does depend on what genre you like though...
Televators by The Mars Volta. Cryptic, haunting, yet it just paints a perfect picture. I wish all their songs had the same impact, but no band is perfect
Two of my all time favourite albums are Flesh & Blood by John Butler Trio, and Transatlanticism by Death Cab For Cutie. I personally like the JBT album a little more, but the songwriting and story the lyrics tell on the DCFC record are next to none. Both are incredible and have definitely opened my eyes (and ears) to what it takes to make great music :)
I've been a songwriter for about 12 years now- when I started playing, I didn't know that covers were an option so I learned how to write- and the two things I believe are indispensable here are listening to other music and always being ready to write. I learned what not to do from actively listening to music I don't enjoy. I still will flip through radio stations and land on something I can't stand if only to figure out what it is about this song that doesn't work for me. Seeing the world through songwriters glasses is something that will just happen. The last two songs I've written came from (1)mishearing the lyrics in another song and I thought my version was interesting so I wrote a whole new song around 1 phrase and the other (2) came from a woman yelling at her daughter; I thought the daughters name was so pretty and neat that it needed a song. Both instances, I jotted a note down and flushed out later. Love the videos, brother.
I really like the lyrics from "right in two" by tool, or curtis Mayfields "here but I'm gone." those are two from recent memory. anyways love your content, it's helped inspire a more regular "block" style schedule for my practice. I've noticed a considerable difference in the way I play and have been more confident in my playing. for that I extend my gratitude for you philosophical and practical ideas of music, thanks samurai!
The first song that popped into my head (especially because your words were "what song you think has amazing lyrics") was Natasha Bedingfield's "Unwritten"; but the lyrics that I ALWAYS think of are from Weird Al's "Everything You Know" (I'm not sure if that's 'the official title,' but it works for me!)
Hey dude, I appreciate your insights! Thanks for helping me hone in on better musicianship. Also, "a nervous tic motion of the head to the left" - Andrew Bird is one of my all time favorite lyrical examples.
The Redness in the West by the Lawrence Arms. The stripped down, simple instrumentation and bleak/hopeful lyrics makes for one of the best songs I've ever listened to.
What I've always felt was the best lyrics I've ever written practiced a lot of these ideas without knowing it, yet I never consciously thought about them. It'll most definitely help to consider these now.
Never expected Hanzo from Overwatch to improve the way I look at writing music, thanks bro! made some great points that helped me view composing from a different point of view.
Writing lyrics is pretty therapeutic, especially for a cranky guy like me. I usually don't sing, but I do write upwards of 200-300 lyric sheets a year, sometimes if it's something I feel is particularly good after leaving it on the cloud for awhile, It comes back, then the second revision starts. Inspiration is everywhere.
This, and your other video "Subtle Aspects of Great Songwriting" are the best videos I've seen on this subject. Seriously. I took an 8 week songwriting course at a local music school and learned more in these 8 minutes. I know this video is older, but would you ever consider doing videos focusing on each one of these tips? How to analyze a melody, for instance. Also, "Rose Parade" by Elliott Smith has amazing lyrics. :)
This video is a goldmine of great, useful insight. Thanks! Here's a problem-- I've written a ton of (I think) good songs but just can't write lyrics. I find song lyrics to be kinda throwaway-- most of my favorite songs I couldn't even recite the lyrics because I don't pay attention to them. How do you go about maybe finding a collaborator?
it is a bit cliché, but I really love the lyrics to hallelujah, each verse is very different from one another, but they share a common bond of attempting to describe the great pain and simultaneous joy that comes from life and being alive, and the song as a whole nails this. no matter which version you prefer, the song itself holds powerful emotion.
Great information...I'll check out the Coursera course. Lyrics aren't my strong point as most of what I create is insrumental music, but the first group that comes to mind that write songs with amazing lyrics is Steely Dan.
Cool video Samurai! Very informative and trustworthy advice. Just letting you know I think Walking Papers - 'Two Tickets and a Room' has some well planned, story telling vocals. I though of it it when you said a country musician will say something you could have heard before but in a different way.
What song do I think has amazing lyrics? It has to be: I Just Called To Say I Love You. This is because it took me YEARS to recognise how cleverly the content was constructed. A lot of people still don't know that it's written in chronological order from January to December. Just listen to the celebrations and seasons mentioned... One for each month of the year... Well done Stevie. #R10Tic skills right there! 🎶🎹🎶
''As I sat sadly by her side'' by Nick Cave has great lyrics in my opinion. This video is very helpful and will be rewatched to focus my creative energies!
Great lesson as always samurai. The only thing I didn't like this time was the background music. Kinda made me anxious while I was trying to focus on what you were saying.
Maynard James Keenan - Pushit; Chris Cornell - When I'm Down; Tom Waits - Philippino Box Spring Hog; Willy Porter - Unconditional Love With so many great lyrics from all of the above artists, it was hard to choose just one song, even one song per artist... but above are just a few of my favourites by them.
what I think is good and what you think is good is irrelevant. Its music, there is no right way to do it. You could listen to One Direction for all I care. But If you enjoy it thats all that matters. Don't try and tell me that a song is crap because you think so.
Thanks for the insight Samurai. Very good stuff. Favorite song lyrics, Comfortably Numb - Pink Floyd, Dust In The Wind - Kansas and The Lord Is My Shepherd - Keith Green.
I play thrashy ugly deathy black metal, and I play in a country band on the side. The country bass approach helps keep me calm and rooted, looking at the instrument more melodically, and definitely helps in the development of my tone. When I go back to the metal, I get both a better appreciation for nuance and tightness, and I get the satisfaction of throwing the book away and letting chaos take over. It's good for balance and education.
Stephen Malkmus writes a lot of pretty clever and interesting lyrics imo, they might come to simple and dumb to some, but i truly enjoy his writting. i particularly like the phrase "You've been chosen as an extra in the movie adaptation of the sequel to your life" from Shady Lane.
to play hide amd seek with jealousy by famous last words, everything in this song is incredible from the tone, word choice and, melody. Thank you, keep doing what you're doing sir.
Just got 'Writing Better Lyrics' due to SG's recommendation. Had it in my Save For Later basket on Amazon since this video first went up... didn't realize so much time had past!
Having John Mayer as my biggest musical influence has made me explore other generes. I began liking country because of the crossroads cmt show he did with brad paisley. And Mayer himself takes influence from a wide range of genres which helps.
I am the Walrus, hands down the deepest, most meaningful lyrics... Really touched my heart.
Mike D "sitting on a cornflake, waiting for the van to come" really hit me 😔
They are the eggmen COO COO KACHOO
Idk man. ‘He got feet down below his knees’ made me feel feel a lot
I to this day have not fully grasped the deep wisdom of that song... despite my greatest efforts in meditation. However, I will never cease the quest for enlightenment I have taken upon myself!
"man you should have seen them kicking edgar allen poe" changed my life forever
"Those people are wrong and more often than not just trying to justify not putting in the work."
Finally somebody said it.
ArchColbert There might be some sense of 'doing it old school', "people back in the day didn't have this and were doing good". but why not making it easier for yourself? Eminem spent nights reading dictionaries and he's a lyrical genius
69 likes on the comment. Nice.
Back in my teens to early twenties, I used to write "practice songs" by the truckload. Sometimes it's good to not get too precious with every idea that pops out of your head. Songwriting is like any other craft, practical experience goes a long way.
I still do that. Well, more like squirrel away lyric ideas in the form of poetry so that I can cannibalize and/or restructure later for whatever music project I'm in.
Good idea that
I had the same exact shy guy figurine!
ALL my songs are “practice” songs. Until they’re not.
@@QuikdethDeviantart well ALL my songs are "practice" songs too. except they never become not practice :/
I think bold as love by jimi hendrix has some of my favourite lyrics
Isaac Howell SAME
"Imagination is the key to my lyrics. The rest is painted with a little science fiction." - Jimi Hendrix
Gravity by John Mayer kills me every time I actually re-look into the lyrics.
"Oh twice as much ain't twice as good
And can't sustain like one half could
It's wanting more that's gonna send me to my knees"
I totally breezed by that line but then it hit me last night. Most of his song are crazy good lyrically tho.
39 by Queen. Great song that tells a heart-breaking story through deep lyrics.
Great lesson! ^_^ I also had a period of my life when I didn't want to study songwriting as a theory thing because I was afraid to become too generic... Just to realise that after really studying songwriting at a music school with other classmates, my skills as a songwriter have improved a lot!
Fast explaining and to the point with awesome ideas. :)
I've been studying songwriting for the past few months and you touched on basically ever major point I've learned. Very useful information.
My favorite lyrics are Time by Pink Floyd. Roger Waters sure knows how to write good songs.
My thoughts exactly. Best lyrics ever written IMHO
Both an inspiration and a warning. A lot of that in Floyd.
Periphery has great vocals imo. Great fusion of melody and heaviness, serving the music in an awesome way.
Much of the methodology you've presented works in various writing situations, from essays to short stories, articles, etc.
I'm glad you posted thus video! It's a good time for me to remember it all. Thank you for helping me to unstick myself!
In fact, you've been one of the "angels in the architecture" that Paul Simon mentioned in "You Can Call Me Al," an incredibly complex song on the psychospiritual tip, masquerading as a simple little silly ditty. I love how Simon holds up the everyman's quest to uncover his core meaning from the examination of a life that is somehow missing something. This guy who represents us all, still being partially in a dream state, can't quite put his finger on what's wrong. To emphasize the point of dreaded pointlessness, his life story is told as some kind of cheesy bar joke. This Joe Average expresses the worries of the collective human race when he say, "Don't wanna end up a cartoon in a cartoon graveyard."
The point of it all in life, I guess, is to keep striving to find the point of it all.
Ultimately, I like lyrics that allow for exploration of reality beyond our current somnambulistic vision. Steely Dan Bob Seager Marvin Gaye. Great lyricists!
"I Talked To The Wind" by King Crimson has some of my favourite lyrics ever,makes me feel like my heart is going to break from a melancholy overdose haha
This part sums up my feeling about a current resident of a famous building on Pennsylvania Ave.
You don't possess me don't impress me
Just upset my mind
Can't destruct me or conduct me
Just use up my time
Wow, you should hear the version they released on “A Young Person’s Guide to King Crimson” (a double LP with tons of unique stuff on them!). He used a weird kind of reverse effect on the vocals, which are sung by a female or females.. It’s so good I dare say it’s one of my favorites!
"Stop This Train" by John Mayer pulls on my heartstrings everytime
Hey hey, I am a new subscriber and after watching many of your videos, please let me offer some constructive criticism:
The instructional/sensei videos are superb. Very sound advice and one of the best and most to-the-point instructionals that I've seen. I see great potential in the channel if you focus on teaching music, especially music theory. It is not an easy subject and most instructors are very hard to understand. You've got a knack for it to explain it to noobs such as me who wants to learn but finds it hard to get the point. On the other hand, please, please minimize the gimmick videos :) I have seen great channels being reduced to gimmickry when they start losing steam. Grabs the attention, gains the click, but doesn't add any value. Do the channel because you love to do it, and you will continue to gain people :) Good luck!
I'm a designer, by Queens of the Stone Age. Original, incisive and amusing. Your Sensei series is great.
Tool - Schism has some wonderful lyrics!
Maynard James has done some amazing work there!
Also, you make amazing videos, Samurai! Thanks man!
I always liked "Pet" by A Perfect Circle. I rarely pay attention to lyrics but, this song really stands out as an incredibly powerful piece in every aspect.
To Life is to Fly by Townes Van Zandt is on of the best lyrics I've ever heard. Thanks for another extremely professional video!
That's The Way It Is by Daniel Lanois always gets me every time I hear it. From a lyrical perspective it presents an easy to understand message that uses unusual metaphors and lyrical devices. But both the singing and music are so simple yet they create such a connection
All Along the Watchtower by Dylan is the first song to come to mind. That and Hallelujah by Cohen.
Thanks for this video. To me one of the greatest songs (from a writing standpoint) is the Beatles Something. Musically it's almost perfect using almost every kind of movement throughout.Major and minor ,ascending and descending movement. I used this in a writing class (many years ago) as my example of a well constructed progression and melody and got an A +. Lyrically it's hard because there are so many great ones. From Springsteen's blinded by the light. An example of painting a picture with words that places you in an environment and you become lost in his world . To John Waite and his metaphorical genius, and articulate use of adjectives. To the storytellers, Dan Fogelberg, Gordon Lightfoot, Jackson Browne, and Bob Dylan. The truly great songs are remembered and are timeless. Keep writing .Pat Pattison said , out of every 100 songs you write, we're lucky if 10 of them are good, and really lucky if 1 or two are great. The more you write and rewrite , the more you get closer to mastering your craft. We learn by making our bad ones better and our good ones great. I am by know means a great writer. Maybe one day I'll get a great one. Until then I'll keep writing.
Your channel is excellent! such invaluable musical advice and wisdom! Many Thanks!
Great content, you are an amazing youtuber!
My favorite lyrics are Time from Pink Floyd. Always gets me how they managed to write such profound lyrics yet with a lot of flow and easy to sing along.
Man your stuff is always helpful. You have the ability to simplify information and give the viewer new perspectives. Keep this up!
"Thrive" by The Contortionist definitely among those making the top of my list.
This video makes me glad that I have worked on writing poetry and rap a bunch. I usually start thinking from a storytelling perspective along with the melody.
Vienna (Billy Joel) has A+ lyrics. Gotta love the piano man.
Any song by Jackson Browne has great lyrics. "The Pretender" always struck me as fantastic songwriting. Billy Joel is another incredible songwriter (that I have only just begun to appreciate.)
Awesome video. Thanks for the insight. One of my favorite lines is in Boston's 'A Man I'll Never Be' - " Cry a little harder, and hold a little tighter, emotions can't be satisfied." Thanks again Sammy...
Hey Samurai! Please make sure to change the link that when you click on it, it opens in a new tab! I wanted to watch this video til the end ;)
And here is a song that I think has amazing lyrics: Keep Going - The Revivalists! :D
Great songwriting info !
Glad l stumbled on to your channel.
In 1979 I was 15 and just got my first guitar.
I had already collected over 100 albums.
(We had the RCA and Columbia record club back than... lol)
I have to say that "Into the Void" was the first song that popped in my head for the most memorable lyrics.
Just a great, somewhat futuristic story of a group of good people who struggle, but ultimately find peace, far away from the evil psychopaths...(why does that word start with a p?...anyone?) who wish to control and suppress them in perpetual and apocalyptic terror.
Thank you Sensei! Lately I've been working on "In The Curve by The Avett Brothers", and "Needing/Getting by OK Go". They both have some slightly tricky lyrics in my opinion, and I've enjoyed the challenge of learning them, and making changes to suit my playing or singing.
Extremely underrated content. This video is one of the most informative ones about music that I saw.
Thank you!
The first song that came to my head when I thought about good lyrics was Haken's Falling Back To Earth. As the centerpiece of their album the Mountain it basically encapsulates the whole story of rise and fall. The lyrics are well structured and easy to understand and interpret yet if you listen to it over and over again you find more and more details.
"...I feel like I mention this in every video..." I think one of the great things about your series is that you are conscious of what you've covered in other videos. Also, as an educator, I really appreciate how your "lessons" have a professional flow, a logical beginning, middle, and closure. Good stuff.
Great tips! Thank you so much for sharing :)
7.29 you talk about broadway putting syllables on the right beats can you elaborate it sounds interesting in regard to natural singing but i didn't quite grasp what you meant, and didn't hear the word you used to describe it when not being on beat.
love the show :)
White sparrows by Billy Talent shakes my heart. Awesome video
Song with Amazing Lyrics: "Roseville Fair" written by Bill Staines. It's a simple story about how the singer met the love of his life at a dance at the county fair. Not a wasted word in the whole song.
I was just listening to "Bridge Over Troubled Water" by Simon and Garfunkel. I thought, these are some powerful and simple lyrics that everyone understands. Brilliant song.
I loved the video. Big fan of your stuff.
I love your videos. You are objective and tackle head on issues with a logical aproach.
At the end the message is always "keep working", which is always the way to get better.
I am a journalist, it may not seem because I come from another language, but I work with words for a living, and because of the way you talk and the way you work, I can say that I have become a fan of yours.
Please keep doing this and keep going on with music.
Great video! My tip? Listen to people who are held up as great songwriters and get a feel for their ideas. People like Lennon/McCartney, Dylan, Diamond, Neil Young, Neil Finn, Dan Wilson, Springsteen etc. It does depend on what genre you like though...
I really like Artifex Pereo's lyrics. And their approach to time signature changes. "Space Between Thoughts" makes me happy in my heart.
Televators by The Mars Volta. Cryptic, haunting, yet it just paints a perfect picture. I wish all their songs had the same impact, but no band is perfect
Two of my all time favourite albums are Flesh & Blood by John Butler Trio, and Transatlanticism by Death Cab For Cutie. I personally like the JBT album a little more, but the songwriting and story the lyrics tell on the DCFC record are next to none. Both are incredible and have definitely opened my eyes (and ears) to what it takes to make great music :)
I've been a songwriter for about 12 years now- when I started playing, I didn't know that covers were an option so I learned how to write- and the two things I believe are indispensable here are listening to other music and always being ready to write.
I learned what not to do from actively listening to music I don't enjoy. I still will flip through radio stations and land on something I can't stand if only to figure out what it is about this song that doesn't work for me.
Seeing the world through songwriters glasses is something that will just happen. The last two songs I've written came from (1)mishearing the lyrics in another song and I thought my version was interesting so I wrote a whole new song around 1 phrase and the other (2) came from a woman yelling at her daughter; I thought the daughters name was so pretty and neat that it needed a song. Both instances, I jotted a note down and flushed out later.
Love the videos, brother.
I really like the lyrics from "right in two" by tool, or curtis Mayfields "here but I'm gone." those are two from recent memory. anyways love your content, it's helped inspire a more regular "block" style schedule for my practice. I've noticed a considerable difference in the way I play and have been more confident in my playing. for that I extend my gratitude for you philosophical and practical ideas of music, thanks samurai!
Heart - These Dreams, some really great lyrics, great video man!!!
I appreciate your analysis here, and yet I'm left with the feeling that creativity defies any analysis at all, by its nature.
The first song that popped into my head (especially because your words were "what song you think has amazing lyrics") was Natasha Bedingfield's "Unwritten"; but the lyrics that I ALWAYS think of are from Weird Al's "Everything You Know" (I'm not sure if that's 'the official title,' but it works for me!)
Drain you / heart shaped box have great plays on words in the lyrics
Hey dude, I appreciate your insights! Thanks for helping me hone in on better musicianship. Also, "a nervous tic motion of the head to the left" - Andrew Bird is one of my all time favorite lyrical examples.
The Redness in the West by the Lawrence Arms. The stripped down, simple instrumentation and bleak/hopeful lyrics makes for one of the best songs I've ever listened to.
What I've always felt was the best lyrics I've ever written practiced a lot of these ideas without knowing it, yet I never consciously thought about them. It'll most definitely help to consider these now.
This was great! Love your videos! Keep up the good work!
Twelve fold chain by the books for sure. Those lyrics really gave me a lot to think about what it means to be a self-aware being.
I quite like Styx lyrics, in particular The Best of Times and Show Me the Way really connect with me. Great stuff Sensei!
Never expected Hanzo from Overwatch to improve the way I look at writing music, thanks bro! made some great points that helped me view composing from a different point of view.
Writing lyrics is pretty therapeutic, especially for a cranky guy like me. I usually don't sing, but I do write upwards of 200-300 lyric sheets a year, sometimes if it's something I feel is particularly good after leaving it on the cloud for awhile, It comes back, then the second revision starts. Inspiration is everywhere.
Looking forward to collaborating with you one day man. You are THE BEST!
This, and your other video "Subtle Aspects of Great Songwriting" are the best videos I've seen on this subject. Seriously. I took an 8 week songwriting course at a local music school and learned more in these 8 minutes.
I know this video is older, but would you ever consider doing videos focusing on each one of these tips? How to analyze a melody, for instance.
Also, "Rose Parade" by Elliott Smith has amazing lyrics. :)
This video is a goldmine of great, useful insight. Thanks! Here's a problem-- I've written a ton of (I think) good songs but just can't write lyrics. I find song lyrics to be kinda throwaway-- most of my favorite songs I couldn't even recite the lyrics because I don't pay attention to them. How do you go about maybe finding a collaborator?
find a collaborator, or band.
it is a bit cliché, but I really love the lyrics to hallelujah, each verse is very different from one another, but they share a common bond of attempting to describe the great pain and simultaneous joy that comes from life and being alive, and the song as a whole nails this. no matter which version you prefer, the song itself holds powerful emotion.
Great information...I'll check out the Coursera course. Lyrics aren't my strong point as most of what I create is insrumental music, but the first group that comes to mind that write songs with amazing lyrics is Steely Dan.
chill in the air - Amos Lee..... excellent lyrics and great song overall
Cool video Samurai! Very informative and trustworthy advice. Just letting you know I think Walking Papers - 'Two Tickets and a Room' has some well planned, story telling vocals. I though of it it when you said a country musician will say something you could have heard before but in a different way.
What song do I think has amazing lyrics?
It has to be: I Just Called To Say I Love You. This is because it took me YEARS to recognise how cleverly the content was constructed. A lot of people still don't know that it's written in chronological order from January to December. Just listen to the celebrations and seasons mentioned... One for each month of the year... Well done Stevie.
#R10Tic skills right there!
🎶🎹🎶
I love how I Belong To You is written, one of the best Muse lyrics
this is great! all of your videos are concise and informative. thank you for the content
I love videos like this, straight and clear
Sarah - Alex G has my favorite lyrics by far.
love your videos man! keep up the good work I learn what I need to learn from you lol
''As I sat sadly by her side'' by Nick Cave has great lyrics in my opinion. This video is very helpful and will be rewatched to focus my creative energies!
Say Hello 2 Heaven has some beautiful lyrics
Great lesson as always samurai. The only thing I didn't like this time was the background music. Kinda made me anxious while I was trying to focus on what you were saying.
You're awesome! Keep up the good work.
Maynard James Keenan - Pushit; Chris Cornell - When I'm Down; Tom Waits - Philippino Box Spring Hog; Willy Porter - Unconditional Love
With so many great lyrics from all of the above artists, it was hard to choose just one song, even one song per artist... but above are just a few of my favourites by them.
Fake Plastic Trees by Radiohead or Boots of Spanish Leather by Dylan are my two favourite songs lyrically
great video man!
Creep by Radiohead is another great by them!
what I think is good and what you think is good is irrelevant. Its music, there is no right way to do it. You could listen to One Direction for all I care. But If you enjoy it thats all that matters.
Don't try and tell me that a song is crap because you think so.
"Blind Willie McTell" by Dylan,
A tour de force of lyricism, imagery, pacing and dynamics.
Superb content man, keep on keepin' on! :D
Solitude by Candlemass. So emotional and true.
Thanks for the insight Samurai. Very good stuff. Favorite song lyrics, Comfortably Numb - Pink Floyd, Dust In The Wind - Kansas and The Lord Is My Shepherd - Keith Green.
Every time I give you a listen you rise to the occasion. Thanks for your insights.
I play thrashy ugly deathy black metal, and I play in a country band on the side. The country bass approach helps keep me calm and rooted, looking at the instrument more melodically, and definitely helps in the development of my tone. When I go back to the metal, I get both a better appreciation for nuance and tightness, and I get the satisfaction of throwing the book away and letting chaos take over. It's good for balance and education.
Stephen Malkmus writes a lot of pretty clever and interesting lyrics imo, they might come to simple and dumb to some, but i truly enjoy his writting. i particularly like the phrase "You've been chosen as an extra in the movie adaptation of the sequel to your life" from Shady Lane.
Just about all Touché Amoré lyrics I've come across, their way of writing is out of this world
7/8th melodic country song about the fermi paradox. Can you do it?
7/8 time signature*
23/24 hair metal song about Big Bang Nucleosynthesis.
Thumbs ub. As you mentioned I love the musicality of the lyrics and the lyrics of "welcome to machines" Pink Floyd
to play hide amd seek with jealousy by famous last words, everything in this song is incredible from the tone, word choice and, melody. Thank you, keep doing what you're doing sir.
The song with my favorite lyrics is "Wings of Nightmares" by Counterparts. The song is about tragedy and death of loved ones.
More than words by Extreme. I love the song, and the lyrics really resonate with me. Great vid :)
Thank you sensei, its the first video l watch and I already love the channel.
Just got 'Writing Better Lyrics' due to SG's recommendation. Had it in my Save For Later basket on Amazon since this video first went up... didn't realize so much time had past!
Bob Dylan - Desolation Row. Amazing lyrics, awesome melody
Having John Mayer as my biggest musical influence has made me explore other generes. I began liking country because of the crossroads cmt show he did with brad paisley. And Mayer himself takes influence from a wide range of genres which helps.
Incredible material thanks for sharing !
I really enjoy the lyrics/storytelling of Brian Fallon (gaslight anthem+) and Butch Walker.
Talking Shit About A Pretty Sunset by Modest Mouse
Really anything by Modest Mouse has amazing lyrics
Yeah honestly man. Isaac Brock is easily my favorite lyricist
Pawn in Their game by Bod Dylan. The best lyrics ever. Great video! Thanks for posting
Tom Waits has a way of writing lyrics that no other artist can do. Tom Traubert's Blues is one of his best songs.